Why is Boudoir Photography so Expensive?
Story Time
Imagine; you really feel like pasta for dinner and there are two options.
There is one place nearby that is fairly cheap and the food is decent. It’s not an Italian restaurant as such but you think they do a have pasta options.You arrive and it’s packed, you wait 15 minutes and are yet to even be acknowledged. The service is average and the food can be hit or miss. When you ask about pasta you are told that there is a new chef and it’s not on the menu but he can do it on request. Food arrives & average, then you barely finish eating and you feel eyes glaring at you from the line of people waiting to be seated. You’re rushed through the paying and before you even walk out the door, the next customer is seated in your spot before they even have time to wipe down the table.
Now, there’s another restaurant across town. It’s a little bit further to drive & looking at the menu you notice that their pasta is quite expensive. Intrigued you make a booking for a few weeks time as it’s the first you can get in. Upon entering you notice that it doesn’t seem as chaotic as the other place. The restaurant is clean, and you are greeted by the warm smiling staff that make you feel so welcome. They have complimentary bread sticks and Italian music playing in the background. The food is next level with the ingredients fresh and flavoursome. Close your eyes and feels like you’re in Italy ;)
The chef even comes out to greet the customers, telling everyone about how she has dedicated her life to creating the authentic Italian pasta like her Nona used to make. When you receive your bill you then realise why the Restaurant was more expensive. You were paying for not only the high quality food but also an authentic Italian dining experience. It will definitely be a dinner that you won’t soon forget and you cannot wait to go back.
Choosing a photographer for your boudoir experience can be similar to the Italian Restaurant story.
Firstly, a clear distinction between a photographer who shoots boudoir sessions and a Boudoir Photographer and Studio needs to be made. Although many places offer the same product (boudoir sessions), the overall experience can differ greatly.
So in saying that, what is it that goes into a Boudoir Experience with me? This blog will cover just that.
You’re Paying a Professional Photographer who specialises in Women’s Intimate Portraiture
A boudoir photographer like myself has to have a passion, a burning desire for empowering women. After specialising in newborn and maternity for many years, I learnt to pose women at the most vulnerable time in their lives when they are just about to have a baby or they have just given birth days before. They had no sleep & 9/10 felt their worst so it was my job to make them look their best. No one can teach that kind of invaluable experience. Of course now my clients haven’t usually just given birth but you get my gist. I have spent countless years studying the posing, and working with all body types. I am not just to create beautiful images of you, but to help you find that inner confidence and maybe reignite that inner Goddess that is hiding within. The Boudoir experience that I have created reflects just that.
More than Just the Photoshoot
If you’ve never done a boudoir session before you’ve likely only seen the final product which are of course the images. You see them posted on Instagram, Facebook or here on the website & you wouldn’t know what the true process is to bringing these to life. Let me break it down to give you a little insight to what goes on for each and every Clients Boudoir Experience.
Booking Call - Before I even Book a client in I spend the time to discuss with each potential client what our experience entails. I want to ensure she is 100% comfortable and understands the process. 10-30 minutes
Before session Planning - Emailing clients, preparing contracts & invoices, creating & sending prep guides, booking appointments, organising prepayment plans etc, scheduling the team for the day - 2-3 hours
One on One Pre consultation - phone meetings, sending emails, preparing contracts & invoices, creating and sending prep guides, planning outfits, scheduling hair and makeup - 1 hour
Professional hair and makeup service - Which you receive on the day of your shoot - 1.5 hours
Boudoir photoshoot - Your one on one portrait session in the studio - Approx. 2-3 hours (not limited to as we never put a time limit or rush clients & only shoot one lady per day)
Photo editing - Importing photos to computer, culling, editing, retouching, exporting, preparing digital gallery, create slideshow, preparing album ready for viewing - 6 hours
Viewing Appointment - Viewing your images, selecting favourites for purchase, designing album - 1-2 hour
Final Edits and Ordering - All the finer finishing touches on any images heading to print. Ordering albums, wall art etc from our suppliers. 1 hour
Post-session administration - Sending invoices and receipts, sending digital galleries, organising collection of orders and doing pickup appointments, sending thank you emails - 1 hour
TOTAL: 16-19 hours
As you can see, there is a lot of planning and a lot of work to get to the final product. And so much thought behind each and every single clients Boudoir Experience. Without the hours of the assistant who stays around to help during your session also, so add another 5 or so hours. This is also just the part that goes into bring a Boudoir experience together.
This of course is without the time I spend on marketing, doing websites, planning and further business development which would easily be double that. This is why I limit how many clients I take on each month to be able to give my clients the proper attention and experience that they deserve.
Conclusion
A Boudoir Session should be more than a photoshoot, it should be an experience. It’s an intimate experience where you can feel vulnerable. But if done correctly, you can also reawaken your confidence and come out stronger than ever. You want to make sure that you find a photographer that you trust will be able to do that for you & look at exactly what they are offering you as a client.
Remember the Pasta story I told? As a customer you have 2 choices. Do you save money and get the inexpensive pasta at the place down the road? Or are you the customer who wants prefers the quality & the experience?
The answer really comes down to what you value & no one can give you the right or wrong answer. You as the customer need to make the best decision for you. If you don’t really care about the experience or quality & just want pasta regardless, then the place around the corner might be the better fit. If you are the customer that values the high quality food & customer service with an amazing chef, then the Italian place is a better fit.
Investment into your boudoir photography experience should be viewed much the same.
Is it cheap? No. Not when it is done right.
Is it worth it? Definitely.
Kristy xx